U.S. patent application number 11/409355 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for heuristic based capture with replay to virtual machine.
Invention is credited to Ashar Aziz.
Application Number | 20080005782 11/409355 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37532907 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080005782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aziz; Ashar |
January 3, 2008 |
Heuristic based capture with replay to virtual machine
Abstract
A suspicious activity capture system can comprise a tap
configured to copy network data from a communication network, and a
controller coupled to the tap. The controller is coupled to the tap
and is configured to receive the copy of the network data from the
tap, analyze the copy of the network data with a heuristic to flag
the network data as suspicious, and simulate transmission of the
network data to a destination device.
Inventors: |
Aziz; Ashar; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARR & FERRELL LLP
2200 GENG ROAD
PALO ALTO
CA
94303
US
|
Family ID: |
37532907 |
Appl. No.: |
11/409355 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11152286 |
Jun 13, 2005 |
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11409355 |
Apr 20, 2006 |
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11096287 |
Mar 31, 2005 |
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11409355 |
Apr 20, 2006 |
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11151812 |
Jun 13, 2005 |
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11409355 |
Apr 20, 2006 |
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60579910 |
Jun 14, 2004 |
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60559198 |
Apr 1, 2004 |
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60579953 |
Jun 14, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
726/3 ; 718/1;
726/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/1425 20130101;
G06F 21/554 20130101; H04L 63/101 20130101; G06Q 20/10 20130101;
H04L 63/145 20130101; G06F 9/45537 20130101; G06F 21/53 20130101;
G06F 2221/034 20130101; H04L 63/1491 20130101; G06F 2009/45591
20130101; G06F 21/55 20130101; H04L 63/20 20130101; G06F 9/45558
20130101; H04L 63/1408 20130101; H04L 63/1433 20130101; G06F
2009/45587 20130101; G06F 21/56 20130101; H04L 63/1416 20130101;
H04L 63/10 20130101; G06F 2009/45595 20130101; G06F 21/566
20130101; H04L 63/0227 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
726/003 ;
718/001; 726/001 |
International
Class: |
H04L 9/32 20060101
H04L009/32; G06F 9/455 20060101 G06F009/455; H04L 9/00 20060101
H04L009/00 |
Claims
1. An unauthorized activity capture system comprising: a tap
configured to copy network data from a communication network; and a
controller coupled to the tap and configured to receive the copy of
the network data from the tap, analyze the copy of the network data
with a heuristic to flag the network data as suspicious, and
simulate transmission of the network data to a destination
device.
2. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 1 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect unknown source devices.
3. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 1 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect the network data sent to an
unassigned internet protocol address.
4. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 1 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect the network data sent to an
unassigned port address.
5. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 1 wherein the
controller further comprises a policy engine configured to flag the
network data as suspicious based on comparing the network data to
policies.
6. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 1 wherein the
controller further comprises a virtual machine pool configured to
store the virtual machine.
7. An unauthorized activity capture system comprising: a tap
configured to copy network data from a communication network; and a
controller configured to receive the copy of the network data from
the tap, analyze the copy of the network data with a heuristic,
retrieve a virtual machine, configure a replayer to replicate the
network data to the virtual machine, and identify unauthorized
activity by analyzing a response from the virtual machine to the
network data.
8. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect unknown source devices.
9. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect the network data sent to an
unassigned internet protocol address.
10. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
heuristic is configured to detect the network data sent to a
previously unused port address.
11. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
unauthorized activity is the result of malware associated with the
network data.
12. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
unauthorized activity is the result of a hacker associated with the
network data.
13. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
controller further comprises a virtual machine pool configured to
store the virtual machine.
14. The unauthorized activity capture system of claim 7 wherein the
network data is replicated between the replayer and the virtual
machine over a virtual switch.
15. An unauthorized activity capture method comprising: copying
network data from a communication network; analyzing the copied
network data with a heuristic to flag the network data as
suspicious; and orchestrating the transmission of the network data
to a destination device to identify unauthorized activity.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein orchestrating the transmission
of the network data comprises: retrieving a virtual machine
configured to receive the network data; configuring a replayer to
transmit the network data to the virtual machine; and simulating
the transmission of the network data to the virtual machine.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the heuristic is configured to
detect unknown source devices.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the heuristic is configured to
detect the network data sent to an unassigned dark internet
protocol address.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the heuristic is configured to
detect the network data sent to a previously unused port
address.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein identifying the unauthorized
activity includes identifying malware associated with the network
data.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein identifying the unauthorized
activity includes identifying of a hacker associated with the
network data.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein retrieving the virtual machine
includes accessing a virtual machine pool.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein the network data is transmitted
between the replayer sand the virtual machine over a virtual
switch.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein analyzing the copied network
data flags the network data as suspicious by comparing the copied
network data to policies within a policy engine.
25. A computer readable medium comprising: computer readable code
configured to direct a processor to copy network data from a
communication network, analyze the copied network data with a
heuristic to flag the network data as suspicious, and orchestrate
transmission of the network data to a destination device to
identify unauthorized activity.
26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein orchestrating
transmission of the network data comprises directing the processor
to retrieve a virtual machine configured to receive the network
data, configure a replayer to transmit the network data to the
virtual machine, and simulate the transmission of the network data
to the virtual machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/152,286, Jun. 13, 2005, entitled "Computer
Worm Defense System and Method", this application also claims
benefit of 60/579,910, filed Jun. 14, 2004 and entitled "Computer
Worm Defense System and Method;" this application is also a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/096,287, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "System and Method of
Detecting Computer Worms," which claims the benefit of U.S.
provisional patent application No. 60/559,198, filed Apr. 1, 2004
and entitled "System and Method of Detecting Computer Worms;" this
application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/151,812, filed Jun. 13, 2005, entitled
"System and Method of Containing Computer Worms," which claims the
benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/579,953,
filed Jun. 14, 2004 and entitled "System and Method of Containing
Computer Worms, each of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to computer
networks, and more particularly to preventing the spread of
malware.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] Detecting and distinguishing computer worms from ordinary
communications traffic within a computer network is a challenging
problem. Moreover, modern computer worms operate at an ever
increasing level of sophistication and complexity. Consequently, it
has become increasingly difficult to detect computer worms.
[0006] A computer worm can propagate through a computer network by
using active propagation techniques. One such active propagation
technique is to select target systems to infect by scanning network
address space (e.g., a scan-directed computer worm). Another active
propagation technique is to use topological information from an
infected system to actively propagate the computer worm in the
system (e.g., a topologically directed computer worm). Still
another active propagation technique is to select target systems to
infect based on some combination of previously generated lists of
target systems (e.g., a hit-list directed computer worm).
[0007] In addition to the active propagation techniques, a computer
worm may propagate through a computer network by using passive
propagation techniques. One passive propagation technique is for
the worm to attach itself to a normal network communication not
initiated by the computer worm itself (e.g., a stealthy or passive
contagion computer worm). The computer worm then propagates through
the computer network in the context of normal communication
patterns not directed by the computer worm.
[0008] It is anticipated that next-generation computer worms will
have multiple transport vectors, use multiple target selection
techniques, have no previously known signatures, and will target
previously unknown vulnerabilities. It is also anticipated that
next generation computer worms will use a combination of active and
passive propagation techniques and may emit chaff traffic (i.e.,
spurious traffic generated by the computer worm) to cloak the
communication traffic that carries the actual exploit sequences of
the computer worms. This chaff traffic will be emitted in order to
confuse computer worm detection systems and to potentially trigger
a broad denial-of-service by an automated response system.
[0009] Approaches for detecting computer worms in a computer system
include misuse detection and anomaly detection. In misuse
detection, known attack patterns of computer worms are used to
detect the presence of the computer worm. Misuse detection works
reliably for known attack patterns but is not particularly useful
for detecting novel attacks. In contrast to misuse detection,
anomaly detection has the ability to detect novel attacks. In
anomaly detection, a baseline of normal behavior in a computer
network is created so that deviations from this behavior can be
flagged as anomalous. The difficulty inherent in this approach is
that universal definitions of normal behavior are difficult to
obtain. Given this limitation, anomaly detection approaches strive
to minimize false positive rates of computer worm detection.
[0010] In one suggested computer worm containment system, detection
devices are deployed in a computer network to monitor outbound
network traffic and detect active scan directed computer worms
within the computer network. To achieve effective containment of
these active computer worms, as measured by the total infection
rate over the entire population of systems, the detection devices
are widely deployed in the computer network in an attempt to detect
computer worm traffic close to a source of the computer worm
traffic. Once detected, these computer worms are contained by using
an address blacklisting technique. This computer worm containment
system, however, does not have a mechanism for repair and recovery
of infected computer networks.
[0011] In another suggested computer worm containment system, the
protocols (e.g., network protocols) of network packets are checked
for standards compliance under an assumption that a computer worm
will violate the protocol standards (e.g., exploit the protocol
standards) in order to successfully infect a computer network.
While this approach may be successful in some circumstances, this
approach is limited in other circumstances. Firstly, it is possible
for a network packet to be fully compatible with published protocol
standard specifications and still trigger a buffer overflow type of
software error due to the presence of a software bug. Secondly, not
all protocols of interest can be checked for standards compliance
because proprietary or undocumented protocols may be used in a
computer network. Moreover, evolutions of existing protocols and
the introduction of new protocols may lead to high false positive
rates of computer worm detection when "good" behavior cannot be
properly and completely distinguished from "bad" behavior.
Encrypted communications channels further complicate protocol
checking because protocol compliance cannot be easily validated at
the network level for encrypted traffic.
[0012] In another approach to computer worm containment, "honey
farms" have been proposed. A honey farm includes "honeypots" that
are sensitive to probe attempts in a computer network. One problem
with this approach is that probe attempts do not necessarily
indicate the presence of a computer worm because there may be
legitimate reasons for probing a computer network. For example, a
computer network can be legitimately probed by scanning an Internet
Protocol (IP) address range to identify poorly configured or rogue
devices in the computer network. Another problem with this approach
is that a conventional honey farm does not detect passive computer
worms and does not extract signatures or transport vectors in the
face of chaff emitting computer worms.
[0013] Another approach to computer worm containment assumes that
computer worm probes are identifiable at a given worm sensor in a
computer network because the computer worm probes will target well
known vulnerabilities and thus have well known signatures which can
be detected using a signature-based intrusion detection system.
Although this approach may work for well known computer worms that
periodically recur, such as the CodeRed computer worm, this
approach does not work for novel computer worm attacks exploiting a
zero-day vulnerability (e.g., a vulnerability that is not widely
known).
[0014] One suggested computer worm containment system attempts to
detect computer worms by observing communication patterns between
computer systems in a computer network. In this system, connection
histories between computer systems are analyzed to discover
patterns that may represent a propagation trail of the computer
worm. In addition to false positive related problems, the computer
worm containment system does not distinguish between the actual
transport vector of a computer worm and a transport vector
including a spuriously emitted chaff trail. As a result, simply
examining malicious traffic to determine the transport vector can
lead to a broad denial of service (DOS) attack on the computer
network. Further, the computer worm containment system does not
determine a signature of the computer worm that can be used to
implement content filtering of the computer worm. In addition, the
computer worm containment system does not have the ability to
detect stealthy passive computer worms, which by their very nature
cause no anomalous communication patterns.
[0015] In light of the above, there exists a need for an effective
system and method of containing computer worms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] An exemplary unauthorized activity capture system, according
to some embodiments of the invention, comprises a tap configured to
copy network data from a communication network, and a controller
coupled to the tap. The controller is coupled to the tap and is
configured to receive the copy of the network data from the tap,
analyze the copy of the network data with a heuristic to flag the
network data as suspicious, and simulate the transmission of the
network data to a destination device.
[0017] In some embodiments, the heuristic can be configured to
detect unknown source devices. Further, the heuristic can also be
configured to detect the network data sent to a dark internet
protocol address. The controller may further comprise a policy
engine configured to flag network data as suspicious based on
comparing the network data to policies.
[0018] An unauthorized activity capture system can comprise a tap
configured to copy network data from a communication network and a
controller. The controller can be configured to receive the copy of
the network data from the tap, analyze the copy of the network data
with a heuristic, retrieve a virtual machine, configure a replayer
to replicate the network data to the virtual machine, and identify
unauthorized activity by analyzing a response from the virtual
machine to the network data.
[0019] An unauthorized activity capture method can comprise copying
network data from a communication network, analyzing the copied
network data with a heuristic to flag the network data as
suspicious, and orchestrating transmission of the network data to a
destination device to identify unauthorized activity. Orchestrating
transmission of the network data can comprise retrieving a virtual
machine configured to receive the network data, configuring a
replayer to transmit the network data to the virtual machine, and
simulating the transmission of the network data to the virtual
machine.
[0020] A computer readable medium can comprise computer readable
code configured to direct a processor to copy network data from a
communication network, analyze the copied network data with a
heuristic to flag the network data as suspicious, and orchestrate
transmission of the network data to a destination device to
identify unauthorized activity. Orchestrating transmission of the
network data comprise directing a processor to retrieve a virtual
machine configured to receive the network data, configure a
replayer to transmit the network data to the virtual machine, and
simulate the transmission of the network data to the virtual
machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a computing environment in which a worm
sensor can be implemented, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts a controller of a computer worm sensor, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts a computer worm detection system, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart for a method of detecting
computer worms, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 depicts a computer worm containment system, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 depicts a computer worm defense system, in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 7 depicts an unauthorized activity detection system, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 depicts an analysis environment, in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 9 depicts a flow chart for a method of detecting
unauthorized activity, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 10 depicts a flow chart for a method for orchestrating
a response to network data, in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] An unauthorized activity containment system in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention detects computer
suspicious activity, models the suspicious activity to identify
unauthorized activity, and blocks the unauthorized activity. The
unauthorized activity containment system can flag suspicious
activity and then model the effects of the suspicious activity to
identify malware and/or unauthorized activity associated with a
computer user. The threshold for detecting the suspicious activity
may be set low whereby a single command may be flagged as
suspicious. In other embodiments, the threshold may be higher to
flag suspicious activity of a combination of commands or repetitive
commands.
[0032] Unauthorized activity can include any unauthorized and/or
illegal computer activity. Unauthorized activity can also include
activity associated with malware or illegitimate computer use.
Malware is software created and distributed for malicious purposes
and can take the form of viruses, worms, or trojan horses, for
example. A virus is an intrusive program that infects a computer
file by inserting a copy of itself in the file. The copy is usually
executed when the file is loaded into memory, allowing the virus to
infect still other files. A worm is a program that propagates
itself across computers, usually by creating copies of itself in
each computer's memory. A worm might duplicate itself in one
computer so often that it causes the computer to crash. A trojan
horse is a destructive program disguised as a game, utility, or
application. When run, a trojan horse can harm the computer system
while appearing to do something useful.
[0033] Illegitimate computer use can comprise intentional or
unintentional unauthorized access to data. A hacker may
intentionally seek to damage a computer system. A hacker, or
computer cracker, is an individual that seeks unauthorized access
to data. One example of a common attack is a denial-of-service
attack where the hacker configures one or more computers to
constantly request access to a target computer. The target computer
may become overwhelmed by the requests and either crash or become
too busy to conduct normal operations. While some hackers seek to
intentionally damage computer systems, other computer users may
seek to gain rights or privileges of a computer system in order to
copy data or access other computers on a network. Such computer use
can unintentionally damage computer systems or corrupt data.
[0034] Detection of worms can be accomplished through the use of a
computer worm detection system that employs a decoy computer
network having orchestrated network activities. The computer worm
detection system is configured to permit computer worms to infect
the decoy computer network. Alternately, rather than infect the
decoy network, communications that are characteristic of a computer
worm can be filtered from communication traffic and replayed in the
decoy network. Detection is then based on the monitored behavior of
the decoy computer network. Once a computer worm has been detected,
an identifier of the computer worm is determined and provided to a
computer worm blocking system that is configured to protect one or
more computer systems of a real computer network. In some
embodiments, the computer worm detection system can generate a
recovery script to disable the computer worm and repair damage
caused to the one or more computer systems, and in some instances,
the computer worm blocking system initiates the repair and recovery
of the infected systems.
[0035] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing environment 100 in
which a computer worm sensor 105 is implemented, in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention. In various embodiments,
the computer worm sensor 105 functions as a computer worm detection
system, as is described more fully herein. The computer worm sensor
105 includes a controller 115, a computer network 110 (e.g., a
hidden or decoy network), and a gateway 125 (e.g., a wormhole
system). The computer network 110 includes one or more computing
systems 120 (e.g., hidden systems) in communication with each
other. The controller 115 and the gateway 125 are in communication
with the computer network 110 and the computing systems 120.
Additionally, the gateway 125 is in communication with a
communication network 130 (e.g., a production network). The
communication network 130 can be a public computer network such as
the Internet, or a private computer network, such as a wireless
telecommunication network.
[0036] Optionally, the computer worm sensor 105 may include one or
more traffic analysis devices 135 in communication with the
communication network 130. A traffic analysis device 135 analyzes
network traffic in the communication network 130 to identify
network communications characteristic of a computer worm. The
traffic analysis device 135 can then selectively duplicate the
identified network communications and provide the duplicated
network communications to the controller 115. The controller 115
replays the duplicated network communications in the computer
network 110 to determine whether the network communications include
a computer worm.
[0037] The computing systems 120 are computing devices typically
found in a computer network. For example, the computing systems 120
can include computing clients or servers. As a further example, the
computing systems 120 can include gateways and subnets in the
computer network 110. Each of the computing systems 120 and the
gateway 125 can have different hardware or software profiles.
[0038] The gateway 125 allows computer worms to pass from the
communication network 130 to the computer network 110. The computer
worm sensor 105 can include multiple gateways 125 in communication
with multiple communication networks 130. These communication
networks 130 may also be in communication with each other. For
example, the communication network 130 can be part of the Internet
or in communication with the Internet. In one embodiment, each of
the gateways 125 can be in communication with multiple
communication networks 130.
[0039] The controller 115 controls the operation of the computing
systems 120 and the gateway 125 to orchestrate network activities
in the computer worm sensor 105. In one embodiment, the
orchestrated network activities are a predetermined sequence of
network activities in the computer network 110, which represents an
orchestrated behavior of the computer network 110. In this
embodiment, the controller 115 monitors the computer network 110 to
determine a monitored behavior of the computer network 110 in
response to the orchestrated network activities. The controller 115
then compares the monitored behavior of the computer network 110
with a predetermined orchestrated behavior to identify an anomalous
behavior.
[0040] Anomalous behavior may include a communication anomaly, like
an unexpected network communication, or an execution anomaly, for
example, an unexpected execution of computer program code. If the
controller 115 identifies an anomalous behavior, the computer
network 110 is deemed to be infected with a computer worm. In this
way, the controller 115 can detect the presence of a computer worm
in the computer network 110 based on an anomalous behavior of the
computer worm in the computer network 110. The controller 115 then
creates an identifier (i.e., a "definition" of the anomalous
behavior), which can be used for detecting the computer worm in
another computer network, such as the communication network
130.
[0041] The identifier determined by the controller 115 for a
computer worm in the computer network 110 can be a signature that
characterizes the anomalous behavior of the computer worm. The
signature can then be used to detect the computer worm in another
computer network. In one embodiment, the signature indicates a
sequence of ports in the computer network 110 along with data used
to exploit each of the ports for instance, the signature can be a
set of tuples {(p.sub.1, c.sub.1), (p.sub.2, c.sub.2), . . . },
where p.sub.n represents a Transfer Control Protocol (TCP) or a
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port number, and c.sub.n is signature
data contained in a TCP or UDP packet used to exploit a port
associated with the port number. For example, the signature data
can be 16-32 bytes of data in a data portion of a data packet.
[0042] The controller 115 can determine a signature of a computer
worm based on a uniform resource locator (URL), and can generate
the signature by using a URL filtering device, which represents a
specific case of content filtering. For example, the controller 115
can identify a uniform resource locator (URL) in data packets of
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic and can extract a
signature from the URL. Further, the controller 115 can create a
regular expression for the URL and include the regular expression
in the signature such that each tuple of the signature includes a
destination port and the regular expression. In this way, a URL
filtering device can use the signature to filter out network
traffic associated with the URL. The controller 115, in some
embodiments, can also filter data packet traffic for a sequence of
tokens and dynamically produce a signature having a regular
expression that includes the token sequence.
[0043] Alternatively, the identifier may be a vector (e.g., a
propagation vector, an attack vector, or a payload vector) that
characterizes an anomalous behavior of the computer worm in the
computer network 110. For example, the vector can be a propagation
vector (i.e., a transport vector) that characterizes a sequence of
paths traveled by the computer worm in the computer network 110.
The propagation vector may include a set {p.sub.1, p.sub.2,
p.sub.3, . . . }, where p.sub.n represents a port number (e.g., a
TCP or UDP port number) in the computer network 110 and identifies
a transport protocol (e.g., TCP or UDP) used by the computer worm
to access the port. Further, the identifier may be a multi-vector
that characterizes multiple propagation vectors for the computer
worm. In this way, the vector can characterize a computer worm that
uses a variety of techniques to propagate in the computer network
110. These techniques may include dynamic assignment of probe
addresses to the computing systems 120, network address translation
(NAT) of probe addresses to the computing systems 120, obtaining
topological service information from the computer network 110, or
propagating through multiple gateways 125 of the computer worm
sensor 105.
[0044] The controller 115 can be configured to orchestrate network
activities (e.g., network communications or computing services) in
the computer network 110 based on one or more orchestration
patterns. In one embodiment, the controller 115 generates a series
of network communications based on an orchestration pattern to
exercise one or more computing services (e.g., Telnet, FTP, or
SMTP) in the computer network 110. In this embodiment, the
orchestration pattern produces an orchestrated behavior (e.g., an
expected behavior) of the computer network 110 in the absence of
computer worm infection. The controller 115 then monitors network
activities in the computer network 110 (e.g., the network
communications and computing services accessed by the network
communications) to determine a monitored behavior of the computer
network 110, and compares the monitored behavior with the
orchestrated behavior. If the monitored behavior does not match the
orchestrated behavior, the computer network 110 is deemed to be
infected with a computer worm. The controller 115 then identifies
an anomalous behavior in the monitored behavior (e.g., a network
activity in the monitored behavior that does not match the
orchestration pattern) and determines an identifier for the
computer worm based on the anomalous behavior. In other
embodiments, the controller 115 is configured to detect unexpected
network activities in the computer network 110.
[0045] In another embodiment, an orchestrated pattern is associated
with a type of network communication. In this embodiment, the
gateway 125 identifies the type of a network communication received
by the gateway 125 from the communication network 130 before
propagating the network communication to the computer network 110.
The controller 115 then selects an orchestration pattern based on
the type of network communication identified by the gateway 125 and
orchestrates network activities in the computer network 110 based
on the selected orchestration pattern. In the computer network 110,
the network communication accesses one or more computing systems
120 via one or more ports to access one or more computing services
(e.g., network services) provided by the computing systems 120.
[0046] For example, the network communication may access an FTP
server on one of the computing systems 120 via a well-known or
registered FTP port number using an appropriate network protocol
(e.g., TCP or UDP). In this example, the orchestration pattern
includes the identity of the computing system 120, the FTP port
number, and the appropriate network protocol for the FTP server. If
the monitored behavior of the computer network 110 does not match
the orchestrated behavior expected from the orchestration pattern,
the network communication is deemed to be infected with a computer
worm. The controller 115 then determines an identifier for the
computer worm based on the monitored behavior, as is described in
more detail herein.
[0047] The controller 115 orchestrates network activities in the
computer network 110 such that the detection of anomalous behavior
in the computer network 110 is simple and highly reliable. All
behavior (e.g., network activities) of the computer network 110
that is not part of an orchestrated behavior represents an
anomalous behavior. In alternative embodiments, the monitored
behavior of the computer network 110 that is not part of the
orchestrated behavior is analyzed to determine whether any of the
monitored behavior is an anomalous behavior.
[0048] In another embodiment, the controller 115 periodically
orchestrates network activities in the computer network 110 to
access various computing services (e.g., web servers or file
servers) in the communication network 130. In this way, a computer
worm that has infected one of these computing services may
propagate from the communication network 130 to the computer
network 110 via the orchestrated network activities. The controller
115 then orchestrates network activities to access the same
computing services in the computer network 110 and monitors a
behavior of the computer network 110 in response to the
orchestrated network activities. If the computer worm has infected
the computer network 110, the controller 115 detects the computer
worm based on an anomalous behavior of the computer worm in the
monitored behavior, as is described more fully herein.
[0049] In one embodiment, a single orchestration pattern exercises
all available computing services in the computer network 110. In
other embodiments, each orchestration pattern exercises selected
computing services in the computer network 110, or the
orchestration patterns for the computer network 110 are dynamic
(e.g., vary over time). For example, a user of the computer worm
sensor 105 may add, delete, or modify the orchestration patterns to
change the orchestrated behavior of the computer network 110.
[0050] In one embodiment, the controller 115 orchestrates network
activities in the computer network 110 to prevent a computer worm
in the communication network 130 from recognizing the computer
network 110 as a decoy. For example, a computer worm may identify
and avoid inactive computer networks, as such networks may be decoy
computer networks deployed for detecting the computer worm (e.g.,
the computer network 110). In this embodiment, therefore, the
controller 115 orchestrates network activities in the computer
network 110 to prevent the computer worm from avoiding the computer
network 110.
[0051] In another embodiment, the controller 115 analyzes both the
packet header and the data portion of data packets in network
communications in the computer network 110 to detect anomalous
behavior in the computer network 110. For example, the controller
115 can compare the packet header and the data portion of the data
packets with those of data packets propagated pursuant to an
orchestration pattern to determine whether the network
communications data packets constitute anomalous behavior in the
computer network 110. Because the network communication propagated
pursuant to the orchestration pattern is an orchestrated behavior
of the computer network 110, the controller 115 avoids false
positive detection of anomalous behavior in the computer network
110, which can occur in anomaly detection systems operating on
unconstrained computer networks. In this way, the controller 115
reliably detects computer worms in the computer network 110 based
on the anomalous behavior.
[0052] To further illustrate what is meant by reliable detection of
anomalous behavior, for example, an orchestration pattern can be
used that is expected to cause emission of a sequence of data
packets (a, b, c, d) in the computer network 110. The controller
115 orchestrates network activities in the computer network 110
based on the orchestration pattern and monitors the behavior (e.g.,
measures the network traffic) of the computer network 110. If the
monitored behavior of the computer network 110 includes a sequence
of data packets (a, b, c, d, e, f), then the extra data packets (e,
f) represent an anomalous behavior (e.g., anomalous traffic). This
anomalous behavior may be caused by an active computer worm
propagating inside the computer network 110.
[0053] As another example, if an orchestration pattern is expected
to cause emission of a sequence of data packets (a, b, c, d) in the
computer network 110, but the monitored behavior includes a
sequence of data packets (a, b', c', d), the modified data packets
(b', c') represent an anomalous behavior in the computer network
110. This anomalous behavior may be caused by a passive computer
worm propagating inside the computer network 110.
[0054] In various further embodiments, the controller 115 generates
a recovery script for the computer worm, as is described more fully
herein. The controller 115 can then execute the recovery script to
disable (e.g., destroy) the computer worm in the computer worm
sensor 105 (e.g., remove the computer worm from the computing
systems 120 and the gateway 125). Moreover, the controller 115 can
output the recovery script for use in disabling the computer worm
in other infected computer networks and systems.
[0055] In another embodiment, the controller 115 identifies the
source of a computer worm based on a network communication
containing the computer worm. For example, the controller 115 may
identify an infected host (e.g., a computing system) in the
communication network 130 that generated the network communication
containing the computer worm. In this example, the controller 115
transmits the recovery script via the gateway 125 to the host in
the communication network 130. In turn, the host executes the
recovery script to disable the computer worm in the host. In
various further embodiments, the recovery script is also capable of
repairing damage to the host caused by the computer worm.
[0056] The computer worm sensor 105 can export the recovery script,
in some embodiments, to a bootable compact disc (CD) or floppy disk
that can be loaded into infected hosts to repair the infected
hosts. For example, the recovery script can include an operating
system for the infected host and repair scripts that are invoked as
part of the booting process of the operating system to repair an
infected host. Alternatively, the computer worm sensor 105 may
provide the recovery script to an infected computer network (e.g.,
the communication network 130) so that the computer network 130 can
direct infected hosts in the communication network 130 to reboot
and load the operating system in the recovery script.
[0057] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 uses a
per-host detection and recovery mechanism to recover hosts (e.g.,
computing systems) in a computer network (e.g., the communication
network 130). The computer worm sensor 105 generates a recovery
script including a detection process for detecting the computer
worm and a recovery process for disabling the computer worm and
repairing damage caused by the computer worm. The computer worm
sensor 105 provides the recovery script to hosts in a computer
network and each host executes the detection process. If the host
detects the computer worm, the host then executes the recovery
process. In this way, a computer worm that performs random
corruptive acts on the different hosts (e.g., computing systems) in
the computer network can be disabled in the computer network and
damage to the computer network caused by the computer worm can be
repaired.
[0058] The computer worm sensor 105 can be a single integrated
system, such as a network device or a network appliance, which is
deployed in the communication network 130 (e.g., a commercial or
military computer network). Alternatively, the computer worm sensor
105 may include integrated software for controlling operation of
the computer worm sensor 105, such that per-host software (e.g.,
individual software for each computing system 120 and gateway 125)
is not required.
[0059] The computer worm sensor 105 can also be a hardware module,
such as a combinational logic circuit, a sequential logic circuit,
a programmable logic device, or a computing device, among others.
Alternatively, the computer worm sensor 105 may include one or more
software modules containing computer program code, such as a
computer program, a software routine, binary code, or firmware,
among others. The software code can be contained in a permanent
memory storage device such as a compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM), a hard disk, or other memory storage device. In various
embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105 includes both hardware
and software modules.
[0060] In some embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105 is
substantially transparent to the communication network 130 and does
not substantially affect the performance or availability of the
communication network 130. In another embodiment, the software in
the computer worm sensor 105 may be hidden such that a computer
worm cannot detect the computer worm sensor 105 by checking for the
existence of files (e.g., software programs) in the computer worm
sensor 105 or by performing a simple signature check of the files.
In one example, the software configuration of the computer worm
sensor 105 is hidden by employing one or more well-known
polymorphic techniques used by viruses to evade signature-based
detection.
[0061] In another embodiment, the gateway 125 facilitates
propagation of computer worms from the communication network 130 to
the computer network 110, with the controller 115 orchestrating
network activities in the computer network 110 to actively
propagate the computer worms from the communication network 130 to
the computer network 110. For example, the controller 115 can
originate one or more network communications between the computer
network 110 and the communication network 130. In this way, a
passive computer worm in the communication network 130 can attach
to one of the network communications and propagate along with the
network communication from the communication network 130 to the
computer network 110. Once the computer worm is in the computer
network 110, the controller 115 can detect the computer worm based
on an anomalous behavior of the computer worm, as is described in
more fully herein.
[0062] In another embodiment, the gateway 125 selectively prevents
normal network traffic (e.g., network traffic not generated by a
computer worm) from propagating from the communication network 130
to the computer network 110 to prevent various anomalies or
perturbations in the computer network 110. In this way, the
orchestrated behavior of the computer network 110 can be simplified
to increase the reliability of the computer worm sensor 105.
[0063] For example, the gateway 125 can prevent Internet Protocol
(IP) data packets from being routed from the communication network
130 to the computer network 110. Alternatively, the gateway 125 can
prevent broadcast and multicast network communications from being
transmitted from the communication network 130 to the computer
network 110, prevent communications generated by remote shell
applications (e.g., Telnet) in the communication network 130 from
propagating to the computer network 110, or exclude various
application level gateways including proxy services that are
typically present in a computer network for application programs in
the computer network. Such application programs can include a Web
browser, an FTP server and a mail server, and the proxy services
can include the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the File Transfer
Protocol (FTP), or the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
[0064] In another embodiment, the computing systems 120 and the
gateway 125 are virtual computing systems. For example, the
computing systems 120 may be implemented as virtual systems using
machine virtualization technologies such as VMware.TM. sold by
VMware, Inc. In another example, the VM can be based on
instrumental virtual CPU technology (e.g., Bochs, Qemu, and
Valgrind.) In another embodiment, the virtual systems include VM
software profiles and the controller 115 automatically updates the
VM software profiles to be representative of the communication
network 130. The gateway 125 and the computer network 110 may also
be implemented as a combination of virtual and real systems.
[0065] In another embodiment, the computer network 110 is a virtual
computer network. The computer network 110 includes network device
drivers (e.g., special purpose network device drivers) that do not
access a physical network, but instead use software message passing
between the different virtual computing systems 120 in the computer
network 110. The network device drivers may log data packets of
network communications in the computer network 110, which represent
the monitored behavior of the computer network 110.
[0066] In various embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105
establishes a software environment of the computer network 110
(e.g., computer programs in the computing systems 120) to reflect a
software environment of a selected computer network (e.g., the
communication network 130). For example, the computer worm sensor
105 can select a software environment of a computer network
typically attacked by computer worms (e.g., a software environment
of a commercial communication network) and can configure the
computer network 110 to reflect that software environment. In a
further embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 updates the
software environment of the computer network 110 to reflect changes
in the software environment of the selected computer network. In
this way, the computer worm sensor 105 can effectively detect a
computer worm that targets a recently deployed software program or
software profile in the software environment (e.g., a widely
deployed software profile).
[0067] The computer worm sensor 105 can also monitor the software
environment of the selected computer network and automatically
update the software environment of the computer network 110 to
reflect the software environment of the selected computer network.
For example, the computer worm sensor 105 can modify the software
environment of the computer network 110 in response to receiving an
update for a software program (e.g., a widely used software
program) in the software environment of the selected computer
network.
[0068] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 has a
probe mechanism to automatically check the version, the release
number, and the patch-level of major operating systems and
application software components installed in the communication
network 130. Additionally, the computer worm sensor 105 has access
to a central repository of up-to-date versions of the system and
application software components. In this embodiment, the computer
worm sensor 105 detects a widely used software component (e.g.,
software program) operating in the communication network 130,
downloads the software component from the central repository, and
automatically deploys the software component in the computer
network 110 (e.g., installs the software component in the computing
systems 120). The computer worm sensor 105 may coordinate with
other computer worm sensors 105 to deploy the software component in
the computer networks 110 of the computer worm sensors 105. In this
way, the software environment of each computer worm sensor 105 is
modified to contain the software component.
[0069] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensors 105 are
automatically updated from a central computing system (e.g., a
computing server) by using a push model. In this embodiment, the
central computing system obtains updated software components and
sends the updated software components to the computer worm sensors
105. Moreover, the software environments of the computer worm
sensors 105 can represent widely deployed software that computer
worms are likely to target. Examples of available commercial
technologies that can aid in the automated update of software and
software patches in a networked environment include N1 products
sold by SUN Microsystems, Inc..TM. and Adaptive Infrastructure
products sold by the Hewlett Packard Company.TM.. In some
embodiments, the computer worm sensors 105 are automatically
updated by connecting to an independent software vendor (ISV)
supplied update mechanism (e.g., the Microsoft Windows.TM. update
service.)
[0070] The computer worm sensor 105, in some embodiments, can
maintain an original image of the computer network 110 (e.g., a
copy of the original file system for each computing system 120) in
a virtual machine that is isolated from both of the computer
network 110 and the communication network 130 (e.g., not connected
to the computer network 110 or the communication network 130). The
computer worm sensor 105 obtains a current image of an infected
computing system 120 (e.g., a copy of the current file system of
the computing system 120) and compares the current image with the
original image of the computer network 110 to identify any
discrepancies between these images, which represent an anomalous
behavior of a computer worm in the infected computing system
120.
[0071] The computer worm sensor 105 generates a recovery script
based on the discrepancies between the current image and the
original image of the computing system 120. The recovery script can
be used to disable the computer worm in the infected computing
system 120 and repair damage to the infected computing system 120
caused by the computer worm. For example, the recovery script may
include computer program code for identifying infected software
programs or memory locations based on the discrepancies, and for
removing the discrepancies from the infected software programs or
memory locations. The infected computing system 120 can then
execute the recovery script to disable (e.g., destroy) the computer
worm and repair any damage to the infected computing system 120
caused by the computer worm.
[0072] The recovery script may include computer program code for
replacing the current file system of the computing system 120 with
the original file system of the computing system 120 in the
original image of the computer network 110. Alternatively, the
recovery script may include computer program code for replacing
infected files with the corresponding original files of the
computing system 120 in the original image of the computer network
110. In still another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105
includes a file integrity checking mechanism (e.g., a tripwire) for
identifying infected files in the current file system of the
computing system 120. The recovery script can also include computer
program code for identifying and restoring files modified by a
computer worm to reactivate the computer worm during reboot of the
computing system 120 (e.g., reactivate the computer worm after the
computer worm is disabled).
[0073] In one embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 occupies a
predetermined address space (e.g., an unused address space) in the
communication network 130. The communication network 130 redirects
those network communications directed to the predetermined address
space to the computer worm sensor 105. For example, the
communication network 130 can redirect network communications to
the computer worm sensor 105 by using various IP layer redirection
techniques. In this way, an active computer worm using a random IP
address scanning technique (e.g., a scan directed computer worm)
can randomly select an address in the predetermined address space
and can infect the computer worm sensor 105 based on the selected
address (e.g., transmitting a network communication containing the
computer worm to the selected address).
[0074] An active computer worm can select an address in the
predetermined address space based on a previously generated list of
target addresses (e.g., a hit-list directed computer worm) and can
infect a computing system 120 located at the selected address.
Alternatively, an active computer worm can identify a target
computing system 120 located at the selected address in the
predetermined address space based on a previously generated list of
target systems, and then infect the target computing system 120
based on the selected address.
[0075] In various embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105
identifies data packets directed to the predetermined address space
and redirects the data packets to the computer worm sensor 105 by
performing network address translation (NAT) on the data packets.
For example, the computer network 110 may perform dynamic NAT on
the data packets based on one or more NAT tables to redirect data
packets to one or more computing systems 120 in the computer
network 110. In the case of a hit-list directed computer worm
having a hit-list that does not have a network address of a
computing system 120 in the computer network 110, the computer
network 110 can perform NAT to redirect the hit-list directed
computer worm to one of the computing systems 120. Further, if the
computer worm sensor 105 initiates a network communication that is
not defined by the orchestrated behavior of the computer network
110, the computer network 110 can dynamically redirect the data
packets of the network communication to a computing system 120 in
the computer network 110.
[0076] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 operates
in conjunction with dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
servers in the communication network 130 to occupy an address space
in the communication network 130. In this embodiment, the computer
worm sensor 105 communicates with each DHCP server to determine
which IP addresses are unassigned to a particular subnet associated
with the DHCP server in the communication network 130. The computer
worm sensor 105 then dynamically responds to network communications
directed to those unassigned IP addresses. For example, the
computer worm sensor 105 can dynamically generate an address
resolution protocol (ARP) response to an ARP request.
[0077] In another embodiment, a traffic analysis device 135
analyzes communication traffic in the communication network 130 to
identify a sequence of network communications characteristic of a
computer worm. The traffic analysis device 135 may use one or more
well-known worm traffic analysis techniques to identify a sequence
of network communications in the communication network 130
characteristic of a computer worm. For example, the traffic
analysis device 135 may identify a repeating pattern of network
communications based on the destination ports of data packets in
the communication network 130. The traffic analysis device 135
duplicates one or more network communications in the sequence of
network communications and provides the duplicated network
communications to the controller 115, which emulates the duplicated
network communications in the computer network 110.
[0078] The traffic analysis device 135 may identify a sequence of
network communications in the communication network 130
characteristic of a computer worm by using heuristic analysis
techniques (i.e., heuristics) known to those skilled in the art.
For example, the traffic analysis device 135 may detect a number of
IP address scans, or a number of network communications to an
invalid IP address, occurring within a predetermined period. The
traffic analysis device 135 determines whether the sequence of
network communications is characteristic of a computer worm by
comparing the number of IP address scans or the number of network
communications in the sequence to a heuristics threshold (e.g., one
thousand IP address scans per second).
[0079] The traffic analysis device 135 may lower typical heuristics
thresholds of these heuristic techniques to increase the rate of
computer worm detection, which can also increase the rate of false
positive computer worm detection by the traffic analysis device
135. Because the computer worm sensor 105 emulates the duplicated
network communications in the computer network 110 to determine
whether the network communications include an anomalous behavior of
a computer worm, the computer worm sensor 105 may increase the rate
of computer worm detection without increasing the rate of false
positive worm detection.
[0080] In another embodiment, the traffic analysis device 135
filters network communications characteristic of a computer worm in
the communication network 130 before providing duplicate network
communications to the controller 115. For example, a host A in the
communication network 130 can send a network communication
including an unusual data byte sequence (e.g., worm code) to a
TCP/UDP port of a host B in the communication network 130. In turn,
the host B can send a network communication including a similar
unusual data byte sequence to the same TCP/UDP port of a host C in
the communication network 130. In this example, the network
communications from host A to host B and from host B to host C
represent a repeating pattern of network communication. The unusual
data byte sequences may be identical data byte sequences or highly
correlated data byte sequences. The traffic analysis device 135
filters the repeating pattern of network communications by using a
correlation threshold to determine whether to duplicate the network
communication and provide the duplicated network communication to
the controller 115.
[0081] The traffic analysis device 135 may analyze communication
traffic in the communication network 130 for a predetermined
period. For example, the predetermined period can be a number of
seconds, minutes, hours, or days. In this way, the traffic analysis
device 135 can detect slow propagating computer worms as well as
fast propagating computer worms in the communication network
130.
[0082] The computer worm sensor 105 may contain a computer worm
(e.g., a scanning computer worm) within the computer network 110 by
performing dynamic NAT on an unexpected network communication
originating in the computer network 110 (e.g., an unexpected
communication generated by a computing system 120). For example,
the computer worm sensor 105 can perform dynamic NAT on data
packets of an IP address range scan originating in the computer
network 110 to redirect the data packets to a computing system 120
in the computer network 110. In this way, the network communication
is contained in the computer network 110.
[0083] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 is
topologically knit into the communication network 130 to facilitate
detection of a topologically directed computer worm. The controller
115 may use various network services in the communication network
130 to topologically knit the computer worm sensor 105 into the
communication network 130. For example, the controller 115 may
generate a gratuitous ARP response including the IP address of a
computing system 120 to the communication network 130 such that a
host in the communication network 130 stores the IP address in an
ARP cache. In this way, the controller 115 plants the IP address of
the computing system 120 into the communication network 130 to
topologically knit the computing system 120 into the communication
network 130.
[0084] The ARP response generated by the computer worm sensor 105
may include a media access control (MAC) address and a
corresponding IP address for one or more of the computing systems
120. A host (e.g., a computing system) in the communication network
130 can then store the MAC and IP addresses in one or more local
ARP caches. A topologically directed computer worm can then access
the MAC and IP addresses in the ARP caches and can target the
computing systems 120 based on the MAC or IP addresses.
[0085] In various embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105 can
accelerate network activities in the computer network 110. In this
way, the computer worm sensor 105 can reduce the time for detecting
a time-delayed computer worm (e.g., the CodeRed-II computer worm)
in the computer network 110. Further, accelerating the network
activities in the computer network 110 may allow the computer worm
sensor 105 to detect the time-delayed computer worm before the
time-delayed computer worm causes damage in the communication
network 130. The computer worm sensor 105 can then generate a
recovery script for the computer worm and provide the recovery
script to the communication network 130 for disabling the computer
worm in the communication network 130.
[0086] The computing system 120 in the computer network can
accelerate network activities by intercepting time-sensitive system
calls (e.g., "time-of-day" or "sleep" system calls) generated by a
software program executing in the computing system 120 or responses
to such systems calls, and then modifying the systems calls or
responses to accelerate execution of the software program. For
example, the computing system 120 can modify a parameter of a
"sleep" system call to reduce the execution time of this system
call or modify the time or date in a response to a "time-of-day"
system call to a future time or date. Alternatively, the computing
system 120 can identify a time consuming program loop (e.g., a
long, central processing unit intensive while loop) executing in
the computing system 120 and can increase the priority of the
software program containing the program loop to accelerate
execution of the program loop.
[0087] In various embodiments, the computer worm sensor 105
includes one or more computer programs for identifying execution
anomalies in the computing systems 120 (e.g., anomalous behavior in
the computer network 110) and distinguishing a propagation vector
of a computer worm from spurious traffic (e.g. chaff traffic)
generated by the computer worm. In one embodiment, the computing
systems 120 execute the computing programs to identify execution
anomalies occurring in the computing network 110. The computer worm
sensor 105 correlates these execution anomalies with the monitored
behavior of the computer worm to distinguish computing processes
(e.g., network services) that the computer worm exploits for
propagation purposes from computing processes that only receive
benign network traffic from the computer worm. The computer worm
sensor 105 then determines a propagation vector of the computer
worm based on the computing processes that the computer worm
propagates for exploitative purposes. In a further embodiment, each
computing system 120 executing a function of one of the computer
programs as an intrusion detection system (IDS) by generating a
computer worm intrusion indicator in response to detecting an
execution anomaly.
[0088] In one embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 tracks
system call sequences to identify an execution anomaly in the
computing system 120. For example, the computer worm sensor 105 can
use finite state automata techniques to identify an execution
anomaly. Additionally, the computer worm system 105 may identify an
execution anomaly based on call-stack information for system calls
executed in a computing system 120. For example, a call-stack
execution anomaly may occur when a computer worm executes system
calls from the stack or the heap of the computing system 120. The
computer worm system 105 may also identify an execution anomaly
based on virtual path identifiers in the call-stack
information.
[0089] The computer worm system 105 may monitor transport level
ports of a computing system 120. For example, the computer worm
sensor 105 can monitor systems calls (e.g., "bind" or "recvfrom"
system calls) associated with one or more transport level ports of
a computing process in the computing system 120 to identify an
execution anomaly. If the computer worm system 105 identifies an
execution anomaly for one of the transport level ports, the
computer worm sensor 105 includes the transport level port in the
identifier (e.g., a signature or a vector) of the computer worm, as
is described more fully herein.
[0090] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 analyzes
binary code (e.g., object code) of a computing process in the
computing system 120 to identify an execution anomaly. The computer
worm system 105 may also analyze the call stack and the execution
stack of the computing system 120 to identify the execution
anomaly. For example, the computer worm sensor 105 may perform a
static analysis on the binary code of the computing process to
identify possible call stacks and virtual path identifiers for the
computing process. The computer worm sensor 105 then compares an
actual call stack with the identified call stacks to identify a
call stack execution anomaly in the computing system 120. In this
way, the computer worm sensor 105 can reduce the number of false
positive computer worm detections and false negative computer worm
detections. Moreover, if the computer worm sensor 105 can identify
all possible call-stacks and virtual path identifiers for the
computing process, the computer worm sensor 105 can have a zero
false positive rate of computer worm detection.
[0091] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105
identifies one or more anomalous program counters in the call
stack. For example, an anomalous program counter can be the program
counter of a system call generated by worm code of a computer worm.
The computer worm sensor 105 tracks the anomalous program counters
and determines an identifier for detecting the computer worm based
on the anomalous program counters. Additionally, the computer worm
sensor 105 can determine whether a memory location (e.g., a memory
address or a memory page) referenced by the program counter is a
writable memory location. The computer worm sensor 105 then
determines whether the computer worm has exploited the memory
location. For example, a computer worm can store worm code into a
memory location by exploiting a vulnerability of the computing
system 120 (e.g., a buffer overflow mechanism).
[0092] The computer worm sensor 105 may take a snapshot of data in
the memory around the memory location referenced by the anomalous
program counter. The computer worm sensor 105 then searches the
snapshot for data in recent data packets received by the computing
process (e.g., computing thread) associated with the anomalous
program counter. The computer worm sensor 105 searches the snapshot
by using a searching algorithm to compare data in the recent data
packets with a sliding window of data (e.g., 16 bytes of data) in
the snapshot. If the computer worm sensor 105 finds a match between
the data in a recent data packet and the data in the sliding
window, the matching data is deemed to be a signature candidate for
the computer worm.
[0093] In another embodiment, the computing system 120 tracks the
integrity of computing code in a computing system 120 to identify
an execution anomaly in the computing system 120. The computing
system 120 associates an integrity value with data stored in the
computing system 120 to identify the source of the data. If the
data is from a known source (e.g., a computing program) in the
computing system 120, the integrity value is set to one, otherwise
the integrity value is set to zero. For example, data received by
the computing system 120 in a network communication is associated
with an integrity value of zero. The computing system 120 stores
the integrity value along with the data in the computing system
120, and monitors a program counter in the computing system 120 to
identify an execution anomaly based on the integrity value. A
program counter having an integrity value of zero indicates that
data from a network communication is stored in the program counter,
which represents an execution anomaly in the computing system
120.
[0094] The computing system 120 may use the signature extraction
algorithm to identify a decryption routine in the worm code of a
polymorphic worm, such that the decryption routine is deemed to be
a signature candidate of the computer worm. Additionally, the
computer worm sensor 105 may compare signature candidates
identified by the computing systems 120 in the computer worm sensor
105 to determine an identifier for detecting the computer worm. For
example, the computer worm sensor 105 can identify common code
portions in the signature candidates to determine an identifier for
detecting the computer worm. In this way, the computer worm sensor
105 can determine an identifier of a polymorphic worm containing a
mutating decryption routine (e.g., polymorphic code).
[0095] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105 monitors
network traffic in the computer network 110 and compares the
monitored network traffic with typical network traffic patterns
occurring in a computer network to identify anomalous network
traffic in the computer network 110. The computer worm sensor 105
determines signature candidates based on data packets of the
anomalous network traffic (e.g., extracts signature candidates from
the data packets) and determines identifiers for detecting computer
worms based on the signature candidates.
[0096] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105
evaluates characteristics of a signature candidate to determine the
quality of the signature candidate, which indicates an expected
level of false positive computer worm detection in a computer
network (e.g., the communication network 130). For example, a
signature candidate having a high quality is not contained in data
packets of typical network traffic occurring in the computer
network. Characteristics of a signature candidate include a minimum
length of the signature candidate (e.g., 16 bytes of data) and an
unusual data byte sequence. In one embodiment, the computer worm
sensor 105 performs statistical analysis on the signature candidate
to determine whether the signature candidate includes an unusual
byte sequence. For example, computer worm sensor 105 can determine
a correlation between the signature candidate and data contained in
typical network traffic. In this example, a low correlation (e.g.,
zero correlation) indicates a high quality signature candidate.
[0097] In another embodiment, the computer worm sensor 105
identifies execution anomalies by detecting unexpected computing
processes in the computer network 110 (i.e., computing processes
that are not part of the orchestrated behavior of the computing
network 110). The operating systems in the computing systems 120
may be configured to detect computing processes that are not in a
predetermined collection of computing processes. In another
embodiment, a computing system 120 is configured as a network
server that permits a host in the communication network 130 to
remotely execute commands on the computing system 120. For example,
the original Morris computer worm exploited a debug mode of
sendmail that allowed remote command execution in a mail
server.
[0098] In some cases, the intrusion detection system of the
computer worm sensor 105 detects an active computer worm based on
anomalous network traffic in the computer network 110, but the
computer worm sensor 105 does not detect an execution anomaly
caused by a computing process in the computer network 110. In these
cases, the computer worm sensor 105 determines whether the computer
worm has multiple possible transport vectors based on the ports
being accessed by the anomalous network traffic in the computer
network 110. If the computer network 110 includes a small number of
ports (e.g., one or two), the computer worm sensor 105 can use
these ports to determine a vector for the computer worm.
Conversely, if the computer network 110 includes many ports (e.g.,
three or more ports), the computer worm sensor 105 partitions the
computing services in the computer network 110 at appropriate
control points to determine those ports exploited by the computer
worm.
[0099] The computer worm sensor 105 may randomly block ports of the
computing systems 120 to suppress traffic to these blocked ports.
Consequently, a computer worm having a transport vector that
requires one or more of the blocked ports will not be able to
infect a computing system 120 in which those ports are blocked. The
computer worm sensor 105 then correlates the anomalous behavior of
the computer worm across the computing systems 120 to determine
which ports the computer worm has used for diversionary purposes
(e.g., emitting chaff) and which ports the computer worm has used
for exploitive purposes. The computer worm sensor 105 then
determines a transport vector of the computer worm based on the
ports that the computer worm has used for exploitive purposes.
[0100] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the controller
115. The controller 115 includes an extraction unit 200, an
orchestration engine 205, a database 210, and a software
configuration unit 215. The extraction unit 200, the orchestration
engine 205, the database 210, and the software configuration unit
215 are in communication with each other and with the computer
network 110 (FIG. 1). Optionally, the controller 115 includes a
protocol sequence replayer 220 in communication with the computer
network 110 and the traffic analysis device 135 (FIG. 1).
[0101] In various embodiments, the orchestration engine 205
controls the state and operation of the computer worm sensor 105
(FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the orchestration engine 205
configures the computing systems 120 (FIG. 1) and the gateway 125
(FIG. 1) to operate in a predetermined manner in response to
network activities occurring in the computer network 110, and
generates network activities in the computer network 110 and the
communication network 130 (FIG. 1). In this way, the orchestration
engine 205 orchestrates network activities in the computer network
110. For example, the orchestration engine 205 may orchestrate
network activities in the computer network 110 by generating an
orchestration sequence (e.g., a predetermined sequence of network
activities) among various computing systems 120 in the computer
network 110, including network traffic that typically occurs in the
communication network 130.
[0102] In one embodiment, the orchestration engine 205 sends
orchestration requests (e.g., orchestration patterns) to various
orchestration agents (e.g., computing processes) in the computing
systems 120. The orchestration agent of a computing system 120
performs a periodic sweep of computing services (e.g., network
services) in the computing system 120 that are potential targets of
a computer worm attack. The computing services in the computing
system 120 may includes typical network services (e.g., web
service, FTP service, mail service, instant messaging, or Kazaa)
that are also in the communication network 130.
[0103] The orchestration engine 205 may generate a wide variety of
orchestration sequences to exercise a variety of computing services
in the computer network 110, or may select orchestration patterns
to avoid loading the communication network 110 with orchestrated
network traffic. Additionally, the orchestration engine 205 may
select the orchestration patters to vary the orchestration
sequences. In this way, a computer worm is prevented from scanning
the computer network 110 to predict the behavior of the computer
network 110.
[0104] In various embodiments, the software configuration unit 215
dynamically creates or destroys virtual machines (VMs) or VM
software profiles in the computer network 110, and may initialize
or update the software state of the VMs or VM software profiles. In
this way, the software configuration unit 215 configures the
computer network 110 such that the controller 115 can orchestrate
network activities in the computer network 110 based on one or more
orchestration patterns. It is to be appreciated that the software
configuration unit 215 is optional in various embodiments of the
computer worm sensor 105.
[0105] In various embodiments, the extraction unit 200 determines
an identifier for detecting the computer worm. In these
embodiments, the extraction unit 200 can extract a signature or a
vector of the computer worm based on network activities (e.g., an
anomalous behavior) occurring in the computer network 110, for
example from data (e.g., data packets) in a network
communication.
[0106] The database 210 stores data for the computer worm sensor
105, which may include a configuration state of the computer worm
sensor 105. For example, the configuration state may include
orchestration patterns or "golden" software images of computer
programs (i.e., original software images uncorrupted by a computer
worm exploit). The data stored in the database 210 may also
includes identifiers or recovery scripts for computer worms, or
identifiers for the sources of computer worms in the communication
network 130. The identifier for the source of each computer worm
may be associated with the identifier and the recovery script of
the computer worm.
[0107] The protocol sequence replayer 220 receives a network
communication from the traffic analysis device 135 (FIG. 1)
representing a network communication in the communication network
130 and replays (i.e., duplicates) the network communication in the
computer network 110. The protocol sequence replayer 220 may
receive the network communication from the traffic analysis device
135 via a private encrypted network (e.g., a virtual private
network) within the communication network 130 or via another
communication network. The controller 115 monitors the behavior of
the computer network 110 in response to the network communication
to determine a monitored behavior of the computer network 110 and
determine whether the monitored behavior includes an anomalous
behavior, as is described more fully herein.
[0108] In one embodiment, the protocol sequence replayer 220
includes a queue 225 for storing network communications. The queue
225 receives a network communication from the traffic analysis
device 135 and temporarily stores the network communication until
the protocol sequence replayer 220 is available to replay the
network communication. In another embodiment, the protocol sequence
replayer 220 is a computing system 120 in the computer network 110.
For example, the protocol sequence replayer 200 may be a computer
server including computer program code for replaying network
communications in the computer network 110.
[0109] In another embodiment, the protocol sequence replayer 220 is
in communication with a port (e.g., connected to a network port) of
a network device in the communication network 130 and receives
duplicated network communications occurring in the communication
network 130 from the port. For example, the port can be a Switched
Port Analyzer (SPAN) port of a network switch or a network router
in the communication network 130, which duplicates network traffic
in the communication network 130. In this way, various types of
active and passive computer worms (e.g., hit-list directed,
topologically-directed, server-directed, and scan-directed computer
worms) may propagate from the communication network 130 to the
computer network 110 via the duplicated network traffic.
[0110] The protocol sequence replayer 220 replays the data packets
in the computer network 110 by sending the data packets to a
computing system 120 having the same class (e.g., Linux or Windows
platform) as the original target system of the data packets. In
various embodiments, the protocol network replayer 220 synchronizes
any return network traffic generated by the computing system 120 in
response to the data packets. The protocol sequence replayer 220
may suppress (e.g., discard) the return network traffic such that
the return network traffic is not transmitted to a host in the
communication network 130. In one embodiment, the protocol sequence
replayer 220 replays the data packets by sending the data packets
to the computing system 120 via a TCP connection or UDP session. In
this embodiment, the protocol sequence replayer 220 synchronizes
return network traffic by terminating the TCP connection or UDP
session.
[0111] The protocol sequence replayer 220 may modify destination IP
addresses of data packets in the network communication to one or
more IP addresses of the computing systems 120 and replay (i.e.,
generate) the modified data packets in the computer network 110.
The controller 115 monitors the behavior of the computer network
110 in response to the modified data packets, and may detect an
anomalous behavior in the monitored behavior, as is described more
fully herein. If the controller 115 identifies an anomalous
behavior, the computer network 110 is deemed to be infected with a
computer worm and the controller 115 determines an identifier for
the computer worm, as is described more fully herein.
[0112] The protocol sequence replayer 220 may analyze data packets
in a sequence of network communications in the communication
network 130 to identify a session identifier. The session
identifier identifies a communication session for the sequence of
network communications and can distinguish the network
communications in the sequence from other network communications in
the communication network 130. For example, each communication
session in the communication network 130 can have a unique session
identifier. The protocol sequence replayer 220 may identify the
session identifier based on the communication protocol of the
network communications in the sequence. For instance, the session
identifier may be in a field of a data packet header as specified
by the communication protocol. Alternatively, the protocol sequence
replayer 220 may infer the session identifier from repeating
network communications in the sequence. For example, the session
identifier is typically one of the first fields in an application
level communication between a client and a server (e.g., computing
system 120) and is repeatedly used in subsequent communications
between the client and the server.
[0113] The protocol sequence replayer 220 may modify the session
identifier in the data packets of the sequence of network
communications. The protocol sequence replayer 220 generates an
initial network communication in the computer network 110 based on
a selected network communication in the sequence, and the computer
network 110 (e.g., a computing system 120) generates a response
including a session identifier. The protocol sequence replayer 220
then substitutes the session identifier in the remaining data
packets of the network communication with the session identifier of
the response. In a further embodiment, the protocol sequence
replayer 220 dynamically modifies session variables in the data
packets, as is appropriate, to emulate the sequence of network
communications in the computer network 110.
[0114] The protocol sequence replayer 220 may determine the
software or hardware profile of a host (e.g., a computing system)
in the communication network 130 to which the data packets of the
network communication are directed. The protocol sequence replayer
220 then selects a computing system 120 in the computer network 110
that has the same software or hardware profile of the host and
performs dynamic NAT on the data packets to redirect the data
packets to the selected computing system 120. Alternatively, the
protocol sequence replayer 220 randomly selects a computing system
120 and performs dynamic NAT on the data packets to redirect the
data packets to the randomly selected computing system 120.
[0115] In one embodiment, the traffic analysis device 135 can
identify a request (i.e., a network communication) from a web
browser to a web server in the communication network 130, and a
response (i.e., a network communication) from the web server to the
web browser. In this case, the response may include a passive
computer worm. The traffic analysis device 135 may inspect web
traffic on a selected network link in the communication network 130
to identify the request and response. For example, the traffic
analysis device 135 may select the network link or identify the
request based on a policy. The protocol sequence replayer 220
orchestrates the request in the computer network 110 such that a
web browser in a computing system 120 initiates a substantially
similar request. In response to this request, the protocol sequence
replayer 220 generates a response to the web browser in the
computing system 120, which is substantially similar to the
response generated by the browser in the communication network 130.
The controller 115 then monitors the behavior of the web browser in
the computing system 120 and may identify an anomalous behavior in
the monitored behavior. If the controller 115 identifies an
anomalous behavior, the computer network 110 is deemed to be
infected with a passive computer worm.
[0116] FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary computer worm detection system
300. The computer worm detection system 300 includes multiple
computer worm sensors 105 and a sensor manager 305. Each of the
computer worm sensors 130 is in communication with the sensor
manager 305 and the communication network 130. The sensor manager
305 coordinates communications or operations between the computer
worm sensors 105.
[0117] In one embodiment, each computer worm sensor 105 randomly
blocks one or more ports of the computing systems 120. Accordingly,
some of the worm sensors 105 may detect an anomalous behavior of a
computer worm, as described more fully herein. The worm sensors 105
that detect an anomalous behavior communicate the anomalous
behavior (e.g., a signature candidate) to the sensor manager 305.
In turn, the sensor manager 305 correlates the anomalous behaviors
and determines an identifier (e.g., a transport vector) for
detecting the computer worm.
[0118] In some cases, a human intruder (e.g., a computer hacker)
may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities that a computer worm would
exploit in a computer worm sensor 105. The sensor manager 305 may
distinguish an anomalous behavior of a human intruder from an
anomalous behavior of a computer worm by tracking the number of
computing systems 120 in the computer worm sensors 105 that detect
a computer worm within a given period. If the number of computing
systems 120 detecting a computer worm within the given period
exceeds a predetermined threshold, the sensor manager 305
determines that a computer worm caused the anomalous behavior.
Conversely, if the number of computing systems 120 detecting a
computer worm within the given period is equal to or less than the
predetermined threshold, the sensor manager 300 determines that a
human intruder caused the anomalous behavior. In this way, false
positive detections of the computer worm may be decreased.
[0119] In one embodiment, each computer worm sensor 105 maintains a
list of infected hosts (e.g., computing systems infected by a
computer worm) in the communication network 130 and communicates
the list to the sensor manager 305. In this way, computer worm
detection system 300 maintains a list of infected hosts detected by
the computer worm sensors 105.
[0120] FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart for an exemplary method of
detecting computer worms, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. In step 400, the computer worm sensor 105 (FIG.
1) orchestrates a sequence of network activities in the computer
network 110 (FIG. 1). For example, the orchestration engine 205
(FIG. 2) of the computer worm sensor 105 can orchestrate the
sequence of network activity in the computer network 110 based on
one or more orchestration patterns, as is described more fully
herein.
[0121] In step 405, the controller 115 (FIG. 1) of the computer
worm sensor 105 monitors the behavior of the computer network 110
in response to the predetermined sequence of network activity. For
example, the orchestration engine 205 (FIG. 2) of the computer worm
sensor 105 can monitor the behavior of the computer network 110.
The monitored behavior of the computer network 110 may include one
or more network activities in addition to the predetermined
sequence of network activities or network activities that differ
from the predetermined sequence of network activities.
[0122] In step 410, the computer worm sensor 105 identifies an
anomalous behavior in the monitored behavior to detect a computer
worm. In one embodiment, the controller 115 identifies the
anomalous behavior by comparing the predetermined sequence of
network activities with network activities in the monitored
behavior. For example, the orchestration engine 205 of the
controller 115 can identify the anomalous behavior by comparing
network activities in the monitored behavior with one or more
orchestrated behaviors defining the predetermined sequence of
network activities. The computer worm sensor 105 evaluates the
anomalous behavior to determine whether the anomalous behavior is
caused by a computer worm, as is described more fully herein.
[0123] In step 415, the computer worm sensor 105 determines an
identifier for detecting the computer worm based on the anomalous
behavior. The identifier may include a signature or a vector of the
computer worm, or both. For example, the vector can be a transport
vector, an attack vector, or a payload vector. In one embodiment,
the extraction unit 200 of the computer worm sensor 105 determines
the signature of the computer worm based on one or more signature
candidates, as is described more fully herein. It is to be
appreciated that step 415 is optional in accordance with various
embodiments of the computer worm sensor 105.
[0124] In step 420, the computer worm sensor 105 generates a
recovery script for the computer worm. An infected host (e.g., an
infected computing system or network) can then execute the recovery
script to disable (e.g., destroy) the computer worm in the infected
host or repair damage to the host caused by the computer worm. The
computer worm sensor 105 may also identify a host in the
communication network 130 that is the source of the computer worm
and provides the recovery script to the host such that the host can
disable the computer worm and repair damage to the host caused by
the computer worm.
[0125] In one embodiment, the controller 115 determines a current
image of the file system in the computer network 120, and compares
the current image with an original image of the file system in the
computer network 120 to identify any discrepancies between the
current image and the original image. The controller 115 then
generates the recovery script based on these discrepancies. The
recovery script includes computer program code for identifying
infected software programs or memory locations based on the
discrepancies, and removing the discrepancies from infected
software programs or memory locations.
[0126] FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a computer worm
containment system 500 comprising a worm sensor 105 in
communication with a computer worm blocking system, shown here as a
single blocking device 510, over a communication network 130. The
blocking device 510 is configured to protect one or more computing
services 520. Although the blocking device 510 is shown in FIG. 5
as integrated within the computing service 520, the blocking device
510 can also be implemented as a network appliance between the
computing service 520 and the communication network 130. It will be
appreciated that the blocking device 510 can also be in
communication with more than one worm sensor 105 across the
communication network 130. Further, although the communication
network 130 is illustrated as being distinct from the computing
service 520, the computing service 520 can also be a component of
the communication network 130.
[0127] Additionally, the computer worm blocking system can comprise
multiple blocking devices 510 in communication with one or more
computer worm blocking managers (not shown) across the
communication network 130 in analogous fashion to the computer worm
detection system 300 of FIG. 3. The computer worm blocking managers
coordinate communications and operations between the blocking
devices 510. In general, worm sensors 105 and blocking devices 510
may be collocated, or they may be implemented on separate devices,
depending on the network environment. In one embodiment,
communications between the worm sensors 105, the sensor manager
305, the blocking devices 510, and the computer worm blocking
managers are cryptographically authenticated.
[0128] In one embodiment, the blocking device 510 loads a computer
worm signature into a content filter operating at the network level
to block the computer worm from entering the computing service 520
from the communication network 130. In another embodiment, the
blocking device 510 blocks a computer worm transportation vector in
the computing service 520 by using transport level action control
lists (ACLs) in the computing service 520.
[0129] More specifically, the blocking device 510 can function as a
network interface between the communication network 130 and the
corresponding computing service 520. For example, a blocking device
510 can be an inline signature based Intrusion Detection and
Protection (IDP) system, as would be recognized by one skilled in
the art. As another example, the blocking device 510 can be a
firewall, network switch, or network router that includes content
filtering or ACL management capabilities.
[0130] An effective computer worm quarantine may require a proper
network architecture to ensure that blocking measures are effective
in containing the computer worm. For example, if there are content
filtering devices or transport level ACL devices protecting a set
of subnets on the computing service 520, then there should not be
another path from the computing service 520 on that subnet that
does not pass through the filtering device.
[0131] Assuming that the communication network 130 is correctly
partitioned, the function of the blocking device 510 is to receive
a computer worm identifier, such as a signature list or transport
vector, from the worm sensor 105 and configure the appropriate
filtering devices. These filtering devices can be commercially
available switches, routers, or firewalls obtainable from any of a
number of network equipment vendors, or host-based solutions that
provide similar functionality. In some embodiments, ACLs are used
to perform universal blocking of those transport ports for the
computing services 520 under protection. For example, traffic
originating from a given source IP and intended for a given
destination IP with the destination port matching a transport port
in the transport vector can be blocked.
[0132] Another class of filtering is content based filtering, in
which the filtering devices inspect the contents of the data past
the TCP or UDP header of a data packet to check for particular data
sequences. Examples of content filtering devices are routers in the
class of the Cisco.TM. routers that use Network Based Application
Recognition (NBAR) to classify and apply a policy to packets (e.g.,
reduce the priority of the packets or discard the packets). These
types of filtering devices can be useful to implement content
filtering at appropriate network points.
[0133] In one embodiment, host-based software is deployed on an
enterprise scale to perform content filtering in the context of
host-based software. In this embodiment, ACL specifications (e.g.,
vendor independent ACL specifications) and content filtering
formats (e.g., eXtensible Markup Language or XML format) are
communicated to the blocking devices 510, which in turn dynamically
configure transport ACLs or content filters for network equipment
and host software of different vendors.
[0134] FIG. 6 depicts a computer worm defense system of the present
invention that comprises a plurality of separate computer worm
containment systems 500 coupled to a management system 600. Each of
the plurality of computer worm containment systems 500 includes a
worm sensor 105 in communication over a communication network 130
with a computer worm blocking system, again represented by a single
blocking device 510 configured to protect a computer system 520.
The management system 600 communicates with both the worm sensors
105 and the blocking systems of the various computer worm
containment systems 500.
[0135] Each computer worm containment system 500 is associated with
a subscriber having a subscriber account that is maintained and
managed by the management system 600. The management system 600
provides various computer worm defense services that allow the
subscribers to obtain different levels of protection from computer
worms, computer viruses, and other malicious code, based on levels
of payment, for example.
[0136] The management system 600 interacts with the worm sensors
105 of the various computer worm containment systems in several
ways. For example, the management system 600 can activate and
deactivate worm sensors 105 based on payment or the lack thereof by
the associated subscriber. The management system 600 also obtains
identifiers of computer worms and repair scripts from the various
worm sensors 105 and distributes these identifiers to other
computer worm containment systems 500. The management system 600
can also distribute system updates as needed to controllers 115
(not shown) of the worm sensors 105. It will be appreciated that
the computer worm defense system of the invention benefits from
having a distributed set of worm sensors 105 in a widely
distributed set of environments, compared to a centralized
detection system, because computer worms are more likely to be
detected sooner by the distributed set of worm sensors 105.
Accordingly, in some embodiments it is advantageous to not
deactivate a worm sensor 500 upon non-payment by a subscriber.
[0137] The management system 600 also interacts with the computer
worm blocking systems of the various computer worm containment
systems. Primarily, the management system 600 distributes computer
worm identifiers found by worm sensors 105 of other computer worm
containment systems 500 to the remaining computer worm blocking
systems. In some embodiments the distribution is performed
automatically as soon as the identifiers become known to the
management system 600. However, in other embodiments, perhaps based
on lower subscription rates paid by subscribers, newly found
computer worm identifiers are distributed on a periodic basis such
as daily or weekly. Similarly, the distribution of repair scripts
to the various computer worm containment systems can also be
controlled by the management system 600. In some embodiments,
identifiers and/or repair scripts are distributed to subscribers by
CD-ROM or similar media rather than automatically over a network
such as the Internet.
[0138] In one embodiment, payment for the computer worm defense
service is based on a periodic (e.g., monthly or annual)
subscription fee. Such a fee can be based on the size of the
enterprise being protected by the subscriber's computer worm
containment system 500, where the size can be measured, for
example, by the number of computer systems 520 therein. In another
embodiment, a subscriber pays a fee for each computer worm
identifier that is distributed to a computer worm containment
system associated with the subscriber. In still another embodiment,
payment for the computer worm defense service is based on a
combination of a periodic subscription fee and a fee for each
computer worm identifier received from the computer worm defense
service. In yet another embodiment, subscribers receive a credit
for each computer worm identifier that originates from a worm
sensor 105 of their computer worm containment system 500.
[0139] FIG. 7 depicts an unauthorized activity detection system
700, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
The unauthorized activity detection system 700 comprises a source
device 705, a destination device 710, and a tap 715 each coupled to
a communication network 720. The tap 715 is further coupled to a
controller 725.
[0140] The source device 705 and the destination device 710 are
digital devices. Some examples of digital devices include
computers, servers, laptops, personal digital assistants, and
cellular telephones. The source device 705 is configured to
transmit network data over the communication network 720 to the
destination device 710. The destination device is configured to
receive the network data from the source device 705.
[0141] The tap 715 is a digital data tap configured to monitor
network data and provide a copy of the network data to the
controller 725. Network data comprises signals and data that are
transmitted over the communication network 720 including data flows
from the source device 705 to the destination device 710. In one
example, the tap 715 intercepts and copies the network data without
an appreciable decline in performance of the source device 705, the
destination device 710, or the communication network 720. The tap
715 can copy any portion of the network data. For example, the tap
715 can receive and copy any number of data packets from the
network data.
[0142] In some embodiments, the network data can be organized into
one or more data flows and provided to the controller 725. In
various embodiments, the tap 715 can sample the network data based
on a sampling scheme. Data flows can then be reconstructed based on
the network data samples.
[0143] The tap 715 can also capture metadata from the network data.
The metadata can be associated with the source device 705 and the
destination device 710. The metadata can identify the source device
705 and/or the destination device 710. In some embodiments, the
source device 705 transmits metadata which is capture by the tap
715. In other embodiments, the heuristic module 730 (described
herein) can determine the source device 705 and the destination
device 710 by analyzing data packets within the network data in
order to generate the metadata.
[0144] The communication network 720 can be similar to the
communication network 130 (FIG. 1). The communication network 720
can be a public computer network such as the Internet, or a private
computer network such as a wireless telecommunication network, wide
area network, or local area network.
[0145] The controller 725 can be any digital device or software
that receives network data from the tap 715. In some embodiments,
the controller 725 is contained within the computer worm sensor 105
(FIG. 1). In other embodiments, the controller 725 may be contained
within a separate traffic analysis device 135 (FIG. 1) or a
stand-alone digital device. The controller 725 can comprise a
heuristic module 730, a scheduler 735, a fingerprint module 740, a
virtual machine pool 745, an analysis environment 750, and a policy
engine 755. In some embodiments, the tap 715 can be contained
within the controller 725.
[0146] The heuristic module 730 receives the copy of the network
data from the tap 715. The heuristic module 730 applies heuristics
and/or probability analysis to determine if the network data might
contain suspicious activity. In one example, the heuristic module
730 flags network data as suspicious. The network data can then be
buffered and organized into a data flow. The data flow is then
provided to the scheduler 735. In some embodiments, the network
data is provided directly to the scheduler 735 without buffering or
organizing the data flow.
[0147] The heuristic module 730 can perform any heuristic and/or
probability analysis. In one example, the heuristic module 730
performs a dark internet protocol (IP) heuristic. A dark IP
heuristic can flag network data coming from a source device 705
that has not previously been identified by the heuristic module
730. The dark IP heuristic can also flag network data going to a
previously unused port address. In an example, an attacker scans
random IP addresses of a network to identify an active server or
workstation. The dark IP heuristic can flag network data directed
to an unassigned IP address.
[0148] The heuristic module 730 can also perform a dark port
heuristic. A dark port heuristic can flag network data transmitted
to an unassigned or unusual port address. In one example, network
data is transmitted to a previously unused (or unseen) port
address. Such network data transmitted to an unusual port can be
indicative of a port scan by a worm or hacker. Further, the
heuristic module 730 can flag network data from the source device
705 that are significantly different than traditional data traffic
transmitted by the source device 705. For example, the heuristic
module 730 can flag network data from a source device 705 such as a
laptop that begins to transmit network data that is common to a
server.
[0149] The heuristic module 730 can retain data packets belonging
to a particular data flow previously copied by the tap 715. In one
example, the heuristic module 730 receives data packets from the
tap 715 and stores the data packets within a buffer or other
memory. Once the heuristic module 730 receives a predetermined
number of data packets from a particular data flow, the heuristic
module 730 performs the heuristics and/or probability analysis.
[0150] In some embodiments, the heuristic module 730 performs
heuristic and/or probability analysis on a set of data packets
belonging to a data flow and then stores the data packets within a
buffer or other memory. The heuristic module 730 can then continue
to receive new data packets belonging to the same data flow. Once a
predetermined number of new data packets belonging to the same data
flow are received, the heuristic and/or probability analysis can be
performed upon the combination of buffered and new data packets to
determine a likelihood of suspicious activity.
[0151] In some embodiments, an optional buffer receives the flagged
network data from the heuristic module 730. The buffer can buffer
and organize the flagged network data into one or more data flows
before providing the one or more data flows to the scheduler 735.
In various embodiments, the buffer can buffer network data and
stall before providing the network data to the scheduler 735. In
one example, the buffer stalls the network data to allow other
components of the controller 725 time to complete functions or
otherwise clear data congestion.
[0152] The scheduler 735 identifies the destination device 710 and
retrieves a virtual machine associated with the destination device
710. A virtual machine is software that is configured to mimic the
performance of a device (e.g., the destination device 710). The
virtual machine can be retrieved from the virtual machine pool
745.
[0153] In some embodiments, the heuristic module 730 transmits the
metadata identifying the destination device 710 to the scheduler
735. In other embodiments, the scheduler 735 receives one or more
data packets of the network data from the heuristic module 730 and
analyzes the one or more data packets to identify the destination
device 710. In yet other embodiments, the metadata can be received
from the tap 715.
[0154] The scheduler 735 can retrieve and configure the virtual
machine to mimic the pertinent performance characteristics of the
destination device 710. In one example, the scheduler 735
configures the characteristics of the virtual machine to mimic only
those features of the destination device 710 that are affected by
the network data copied by the tap 715. The scheduler 735 can
determine the features of the destination device 710 that are
affected by the network data by receiving and analyzing the network
data from the tap 715. Such features of the destination device 710
can include ports that are to receive the network data, select
device drivers that are to respond to the network data and any
other devices coupled to or contained within the destination device
710 that can respond to the network data. In other embodiments, the
heuristic module 730 can determine the features of the destination
device 710 that are affected by the network data by receiving and
analyzing the network data from the tap 715. The heuristic module
730 can then transmit the features of the destination device to the
scheduler 735.
[0155] The optional fingerprint module 740 is configured to
determine the packet format of the network data to assist the
scheduler 735 in the retrieval and/or configuration of the virtual
machine. In one example, the fingerprint module 740 determines that
the network data is based on a transmission control
protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). Thereafter, the scheduler 735
will configure a virtual machine with the appropriate ports to
receive TCP/IP packets. In another example, the fingerprint module
740 can configure a virtual machine with the appropriate ports to
receive user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP) packets.
The fingerprint module 740 can determine any type of packet format
of a network data.
[0156] The virtual machine pool 745 is configured to store virtual
machines. The virtual machine pool 745 can be any storage capable
of storing software. In one example, the virtual machine pool 745
stores a single virtual machine that can be configured by the
scheduler 735 to mimic the performance of any destination device
710 on the communication network 720. The virtual machine pool 745
can store any number of distinct virtual machines that can be
configured to simulate the performance of any destination devices
710.
[0157] The analysis environment 750 simulates transmission of the
network data between the source device 705 and the destination
device 710 to analyze the effects of the network data upon the
destination device 710. The analysis environment 750 can identify
the effects of malware or illegitimate computer users (e.g., a
hacker, computer cracker, or other computer user) by analyzing the
simulation of the effects of the network data upon the destination
device 710 that is carried out on the virtual machine. There can be
multiple analysis environments 710 to simulate multiple network
data. The analysis environment 750 is further discussed with
respect to FIG. 8.
[0158] The optional policy engine 755 is coupled to the heuristic
module 730 and can identify network data as suspicious based upon
policies contained within the policy engine 755. In one example, a
destination device 710 can be a computer designed to attract
hackers and/or worms (e.g., a "honey pot"). The policy engine 755
can contain a policy to flag any network data directed to the
"honey pot" as suspicious since the "honey pot" should not be
receiving any legitimate network data. In another example, the
policy engine 755 can contain a policy to flag network data
directed to any destination device 710 that contains highly
sensitive or "mission critical" information.
[0159] The policy engine 755 can also dynamically apply a rule to
copy all network data related to network data already flagged by
the heuristic module 730. In one example, the heuristic module 730
flags a single packet of network data as suspicious. The policy
engine 755 then applies a rule to flag all data related to the
single packet (e.g., data flows) as suspicious. In some
embodiments, the policy engine 755 flags network data related to
suspicious network data until the analysis environment 750
determines that the network data flagged as suspicious is related
to unauthorized activity.
[0160] Although FIG. 7 depicts data transmitted from the source
device 705 to the destination device 710, either device can
transmit and receive data from the other. Similarly, although only
two devices are depicted, any number of devices can send and/or
receive data across the communication network 720. Moreover, the
tap 715 can monitor and copy data transmitted from multiple devices
without appreciably effecting the performance of the communication
network 720 or the devices coupled to the communication network
720.
[0161] FIG. 8 depicts an analysis environment 750, in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. The analysis
environment 750 comprises a replayer 805, a virtual switch 810, and
a virtual machine 815. The replayer 805 receives network data that
has been flagged by the heuristic module 730 and replays the
network data in the analysis environment 750. The replayer 805 is
similar to the protocol sequence replayer 220 (FIG. 2). In some
embodiments, the replayer 805 mimics the behavior of the source
device 705 in transmitting the flagged network data. There can be
any number of replayers 805 simulating network data between the
source device 705 and the destination device 710. In a further
embodiment, the replayer dynamically modifies session variables, as
is appropriate, to emulate a "live" client or server of the
protocol sequence being replayed. In one example, dynamic variables
that may be dynamically substituted include dynamically assigned
ports, transaction IDs, and any other variable that is dynamic to
each protocol session.
[0162] The virtual switch 810 is software that is capable of
forwarding packets of flagged network data to the virtual machine
815. In one example, the replayer 805 simulates the transmission of
the data flow by the source device 705. The virtual switch 810
simulates the communication network 720 and the virtual machine 815
simulates the destination device 710. The virtual switch 810 can
route the data packets of the data flow to the correct ports of the
virtual machine 815.
[0163] The virtual machine 815 is a representation of the
destination device that can be provided to the analysis environment
750 by the scheduler 735. In one example, the scheduler 735
retrieves a virtual machine 815 from the virtual machine pool 745
and configures the virtual machine 815 to mimic a destination
device 710. The configured virtual machine 815 is then provided to
the analysis environment 750 where it can receive flagged network
data from the virtual switch 810.
[0164] As the analysis environment 750 simulates the transmission
of the network data, behavior of the virtual machine 815 can be
closely monitored for unauthorized activity. If the virtual machine
815 crashes, performs illegal operations, performs abnormally, or
allows access of data to an unauthorized computer user, the
analysis environment 750 can react. In one example, the analysis
environment 750 can transmit a command to the destination device
710 to stop accepting the network data or data flows from the
source device 705.
[0165] In some embodiments, the analysis environment 750 monitors
and analyzes the behavior of the virtual machine 815 in order to
determine a specific type of malware or the presence of an illicit
computer user. The analysis environment 750 can also generate
computer code configured to eliminate new viruses, worms, or other
malware. In various embodiments, the analysis environment 750 can
generate computer code configured to repair damage performed by
malware or the illicit computer user. By simulating the
transmission of suspicious network data and analyzing the response
of the virtual machine, the analysis environment 750 can identify
known and previously unidentified malware and the activities of
illicit computer users before a computer system is damaged or
compromised.
[0166] FIG. 9 depicts a flow chart for a method of detecting
unauthorized activity, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. In step 900, network data is copied. For
example, the network data can be copied by a tap, such as the tap
715. In some embodiments, the tap 715 can be coupled directly to
the source device 705, the destination device 710, or the
communication network 720.
[0167] In step 905, the network data is analyzed to determine
whether the network data is suspicious. For example a heuristic
module, such as the heuristic module 730, can analyze the network
data. The heuristic module can base the determination on heuristic
and/or probabilistic analyses. In various embodiments, the
heuristic module has a very low threshold to determine whether the
network data is suspicious. For example, a single command within
the network data directed to an unusual port of the destination
device can cause the network data to be flagged as suspicious.
[0168] Step 905 can alternatively include flagging network data as
suspicious based on policies such as the identity of a source
device, a destination device, or the activity of the network data.
In one example, even if the heuristic module does not flag the
network data, the network data can be flagged as suspicious based
on a policy if the network data was transmitted from a device that
does not normally transmit network data. Similarly, based on
another policy, if the destination device contains trade secrets or
other critical data, then any network data transmitted to the
destination device can be flagged suspicious. Similarly, if the
network data is directed to a particularly important database or is
attempting to gain rights or privileges within the communication
network or the destination device, then the network data can be
flagged as suspicious. In various embodiments, the policy engine
755 flags network data based on these and/or other policies.
[0169] In step 910, the transmission of the network data is
orchestrated to analyze unauthorized activity. In one example, the
transmission of the network data over a network is simulated to
analyze the resulting action of the destination device. The
simulation can be monitored and analyzed to identify the effects of
malware or illegitimate computer use.
[0170] FIG. 10 depicts a flow chart for a method for orchestrating
the transmission of network data, in according with one embodiment
of the present invention. In step 1000, the replayer 805 within the
analysis environment 750 is configured to perform as the source
device 705. In one example, the replayer 805 simply transmits the
flagged network data to simulate network data transmission. There
can be multiple replayers 805 transmitting different network data
from a single source device 705. Alternately, there can be multiple
replayers 805 that mimic different source devices 705 that transmit
different network data.
[0171] In step 1005, a virtual machine 815 is retrieved and
configured to mimic the destination device 710. The scheduler 735
identifies the destination device 710 and retrieves a virtual
machine 815 from the virtual machine pool 745. In some embodiments,
the scheduler 735 further configures the virtual machine 815 to
mimic the performance characteristics of the destination device
710. The scheduler 735 than transmits the virtual machine 815 to
the analysis environment 750.
[0172] In step 1010, the analysis environment 750 replays
transmission of the network data between the configured replayer
805 and the virtual machine 815 to detect unauthorized activity.
The replayer 805 is configured to simulate the source device 705
transmitting the network data and the virtual machine 815 is
configured to mimic the features of the destination device 710 that
is affected by the network data. The virtual switch 810 can
simulate the communication network 720 in delivering the network
data to the destination device 710.
[0173] As the transmission of the network data on the model
destination device 710 is simulated, results are monitored to
determine if the network data is generated by malware or activity
generated by an illegitimate computer use. In one example, if the
network data attempts to replicate programs within the virtual
machine 815, then a virus can be identified. In another example, if
the network data constantly attempts to access different ports of
the virtual machine 815, then a worm or hacker can be
identified.
[0174] Since the effects of network data transmission is simulated
and the result analyzed, the controller 725 need not wait for
repetitive behavior of malware or computer hackers before detecting
their presence. In some examples of the prior art, new viruses and
hackers are detected only upon multiple events that cause similar
damage. By contrast, in some embodiments, a single data flow can be
flagged and identified as harmful within a simulation thereby
identifying malware, hackers, and unwitting computer users before
damage is done.
[0175] In the foregoing specification, the invention is described
with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled
in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited
thereto. Various features and aspects of the above-described
invention can be used individually or jointly. Further, the
invention can be utilized in any number of environments and
applications beyond those described herein without departing from
the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The
specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as
illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be recognized that
the terms "comprising," "including," and "having," as used herein,
are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of
art.
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